Single fiber endoscopic full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging probe

Abstract

A single fiber full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging probe ( 300 ) includes a hollow tube ( 301 ), and a single fiber ( 305 ) disposed within the tube for transmitting light received from a broadband light source to a beam splitter ( 350 ) in the tube optically coupled to the single fiber ( 305 ). The beam splitter ( 350 ) splits the light into a first and a second optical beam, wherein the first beam is optically coupled to a reference arm including a MEMS reference micromirror ( 335 ) which provides axial scanning and the second beam is optically coupled to a sample arm for probing a sample to be imaged. Both the reference arm and the sample ami are disposed in the tube. A photodetector array ( 315 ) is preferably disposed inside the tube ( 301 ) optically coupled to the beam splitter ( 350 ). The photodetector array ( 315 ) receives a reflected beam from the MEMS reference micromirror ( 335 ) and a scattered beam from the sample to form an image of the sample.

1. A single fiber full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging probe, comprising:
 a hollow tube, and 
 a single fiber disposed within said tube for transmitting light received from a broadband light source to a beam splitter in said tube optically coupled to said single fiber, said beam splitter splitting said light into a first and a second optical beam, wherein said first beam is optically coupled to a reference arm including a MEMS reference micromirror which provides axial scanning and said second beam is optically coupled to a sample arm for probing a sample to be imaged, wherein said reference arm and said sample arm both disposed in said tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a photodetector array disposed inside said tube optically coupled to said beam splitter, said photodetector array receiving a reflected beam from said MEMS reference micromirror and a scattered beam from said sample to form an image of said sample. 
     
     
       3. The probe of  claim 1 , wherein said MEMS reference micromirror comprises a large vertical displacement (LVD) MEMS micromirror. 
     
     
       4. The probe of  claim 3 , wherein said LVD micromirror comprises an electrothermal bimorph actuator, a rigid frame and a mirror plate, wherein said LVD micromirror generates vertical motion. 
     
     
       5. The probe of  claim 2 , further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed inside said tube communicably coupled to said photodetector, said transceiver transmitting image data obtained from said photodetector over the air. 
     
     
       6. The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a mirror disposed in said sample arm, wherein said mirror directs said second beam to a side of said tube for side-view scanning of said sample. 
     
     
       7. The probe of  claim 6 , wherein said mirror is a MEMS scanning mirror. 
     
     
       8. The probe of  claim 3 , wherein said LVD micromirror includes an integrated accelerometer on the same die. 
     
     
       9. The probe of  claim 8 , wherein said accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer. 
     
     
       10. An optical coherence tomographic (OCT) probe-based imaging system for viewing a sample, comprising:
 said probe recited in  claim 2 , and 
 a control module including at least one broadband light source for coupling said broadband light into said single fiber, and signal processing and synchronization electronics for coordinating, detecting and processing optical interference resulting from a scattered beam from said sample and a reflected beam from said reference arm both received via said single fiber. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed inside said tube communicably coupled to said photodetector, said transceiver transmitting image data over the air obtained from said photodetector.